Principal Newsletter // April 28th, 2026

Apr 27

Dear Appleton Community,

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Complete!

A big shout-out to our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students for the incredible effort, focus, and perseverance they demonstrated throughout CMAS. Their commitment to doing their best truly reflects the strong culture of learning at Appleton.

I am confident that this year’s results will once again showcase our students’ academic excellence and continued growth on this important state assessment. Appleton’s proud tradition includes 16 consecutive years as a High Performance School, and we are well-positioned to make it 17.

Earning the John Irwin Award of Excellence this year is yet another testament to the consistent dedication of our students and staff. Thank you to everyone who played a role in supporting our learners—this success belongs to all of us.

Teacher Appreciation Week is almost here!

Ever wonder what to get a teacher for Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-May 8) or an end of the school year gift? Well, have no fear! The PTA is here! Click HERE to download a list of great ways to show our teachers how much they are appreciated.

Appletones To Perform At JUCO!

Appleton’s amazing music teacher, Mrs. Hanley, is excited to announce that of the 50 singers and groups who auditioned to sing the national anthem at the Junior College World Series, our own student choir, The Appletones, were in the top 13 who were selected to perform. The Appletones will perform at Suplizio Stadium on Wednesday, May 27 at 2:00pm just before the game starts. What an honor to represent our school, community, and country!

Years of Service Milestones at Appleton

Check out these awesome Appleton employees who have reached significant milestones in their years of service. What an awesome team!

Paraprofessional: Talesha Barnett-5 years

PreK: Krystal Stiles-Norby-5 years

Mental Health: Annie Davenport-5 years

1st Grade Teacher: Stacey Dangler-15 years

4th Grade Teacher: Roxi Fanning-15 years

Kindergarten Teacher: Liz Geer-15 years

1st Grade Teacher: Matt Rossman-15 years

Gifted & Talented Teacher: Krisi Gustad-20 years

Special Education Teacher: Shannon Thornton-20 years

5th Grade Teacher: Barb Williams-25 years

School Ends 2 Days Sooner + Bond Issue Update

Exciting improvements are coming to Appleton this summer!

As part of our continued voter-approved bond work, Appleton is set to receive more than $7 million in construction upgrades, including asbestos abatement, HVAC improvements, fire suppression updates, the addition of a makerspace area in the library, and important ADA accessibility enhancements. These upgrades will greatly improve our learning environment for students and staff for years to come.

To help ensure a smooth and well-organized transition into construction, district leadership is working closely with staff to prepare for the upcoming changes. This includes time for packing, organizing, and relocating materials before work begins.

As a result, the last day of school for Appleton students has been moved to Monday, May 18, 2026—two days earlier than originally scheduled.

We appreciate your flexibility and support as we take this exciting step forward in improving our school!

Missing Something?

We have collected over 100 student coats and sweat tops as well as numerous hats, lunch pails, and other items in our lost and found. 100!!! Please check out the Appleton lost and found.

Are You Moving?

If you are planning on moving and if your child will not be attending Appleton next year, please contact the school office. This will help us better predict the number of Transfer Requests we can approve.